Menagerie PFS: Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

The day you received your assignment, Master of Swords, Marcos Farabellus, summoned you to his office. His desk was covered with maps held down by stone carvings and iron trinkets. Several weapons both antique and utilitarian hung on his walls, some of which some of you may recall being turned against you during demonstrations while attending the Master’s classes.

”Glad to see you so prompt! Dreng said you were good agents,” Marcos said with a solid laugh. He himself was only mostly finished shaving his head for the morning, though you were fairly certain none of you were particularly early. The dean quickly wiped off his bald head and took a scroll case from the top of his desk. ”I need you to retrieve a package from a colleague of mine in Ilsurian--yes, the one way up by Korvosa,” he explained. ”We’ve exchanged letters, and he knows you’re coming, but here’s a letter of introduction just the same. Servinus is his name, Rufus Servinus. He came into possession of an Azlanti artifact, a set of engraved metal plates, that I’ve been negotiating with him in trade.

”You’re going to take him this,” Marcos walked across his room and pulled down a sealed stone coffer a little larger than a loaf of bread that bore the sihedron on its lid. ”I’ve secured you passage on the cargo vessel, the Widower’s Wings. She’ll take you to Korvosa. From there you’ll obtain passage on a river barge working for an Ilsurian cartage company, Ilsurian Storage and Hauling. I know it’s a long trip, but I need someone trustworthy to carry these artifacts, not to mention someones able to defend it from bandits or retrieve it from the bottom of the sea if the ship crashes or something.

”Not that your ship will wreck!” he added far too much as an afterthought and with a jockular laugh.

The Widower’s Wings was a good ship. Her crew was even tempered and did not seem off-put by your exotic appearance in the slightest. Her captain, a half-elf named Lorasea, surely set the example for his crew for he handled his ship with skill and dealt with problems among the crew even handedly. You passed through the Arch of Aroden, a breathtaking work of art and feat of ingenuity if crafted by unseemly means. The passage through the Arch seemed appropriate as your final destination was a town founded by the First Sword of the Knights of Aroden. The trip around Nidal was far less daunting than imagined. Boring in fact.

Korvosa was a sight in and of itself. The expansive, cosmopolitan capital would surely have taken you weeks to explore, if you had the time and inclination. However, you arrived merely a day before your river barge was set to depart. Enough time to find a good meal and sleep a solid night’s sleep.

The barge’s crew was composed entirely of Chelish-descented men. There was little room on the barge between the cargo, the crew, and yourselves, and the crew was neither the sharing nor the garrulous sort.

Finally, you have docked at Ilsurian. The town is aesthetically impressive, built upon the hilly land of the north bank of Lake Syrantula. The barge’s crew immediately begins to unload their cargo onto the docks, paying little attention to you. A second crew begins loading the crates onto a pair of wagons with the company name branded onto the sides, Ilsurian Storage and Hauling.

"That was so fun! I think.... maybe like a six out of ten? Could have been more luxurious, but we were early for everything, so that's good enough for me!" Helvetica says, leaping off the gangplank and onto dry land triumphantly. Despite being rail-thin, her body sways momentarily like rubber when she lands.

"Now what? We've got to find that Rufus guy, right?" she asks turning to the rest of her newest friends, her eyes shining with mischief. Despite the earliness of the day and the pair of braids she put her hair in, several strands have already managed to escape and gently float in the air.

Both the wagon crew give Helvetica disquieted stares--states familiar to all of you as the barge crew threw them at you frequently--as she rates the the barge trip.

The more sharp-eared among might catch one of the sailors muttering, "Glad to be rid of the freaks."

A strange-looking creature that appears to be crafted of vines with a carved pumpkin for a head - complete with cheerful smile - comes ambling down the gangplank after Helvetica. Dressed in leather armor and simple clothing, a small array of weapons hang from its person, including a longbow carefully slung over its' back. Following close behind is a strange, fuzzy-looking puffball with spindly legs like that of a spider.

"Dry land at last!" Zu exclaims, putting his viney hands on his hips. "Boats are no place for pumpkinheads, you know? Too much water and we just rot away!"

The leshy - for that's what he is - pauses. "Still don't know why Miss Zarta wasn't in on this. She always made it sound like artifacts were her thing. But oh well! Picking one up in a busy town is almost as good as digging it out of an abandoned temple in the pale moonlight, right Fellow Agents?"

The multicolored puffball skitters along behind Zu, clambering up the leshy's back as he takes in the sight of the city, and comes to rest partially on his back and partially atop his head.

It's quite the sight.

Tizbitz will say little to the Master of Swords, "Tibitz of the Graymanes here... yes, yes, Master Dreng say I to go on big Path-Venture with new Path-Ventures."

The welcoming fetid smell of the city is tantalizing after all the clean sea air of the voyage.

"Dis place sniffs more like home. Ocean all salty, smells like fish and fish guts too much. Too bad we go so fast, I wants see more Korvosa."

During the trip to Ilsurian Tibitz will chat with the friendlier members of the group... and keep his distance from those who appear to want their privacy.

"So this is big Path-Venture. I am master-finder-sneaky-stabby specialist, I am, yes, yes. Have you done big Path-Venture like me? Master Dreng says I am going to be one of the best Path-Ventures of the clans. Yes, yes... but he not say how many of folk are in the Path-Venture club of specialist finders."

"You're right, Zu! I think Madam Dralneen is more about the having others fiddle with things the Society already has though. At least that's what they had me do in the Dark Archives' basement. Touch this! Touch that! KA-BOOOOOM! Still alive? Great! Touch it again!" Helvetica says, pantomiming the situation as she describes it.

"Once Aurora gets down here, we can go see what this town has to offer! Maybe start with the food? Rufus the Doofus can probably wait, right?"

On the boat with Tibitz...
"I've never gone on a big Path-venture before! This'll be my first, but leaving Absalom was the whole reason I joined! Travel on someone else's gold? SIGN. ME. UP."
________
Zu and Fuzzy are pleasantly disturbing! Does the face on the pumpkin move, or does sound just kind of come out of it?

"Did somebody say 'food'?" Aurora smiles as she rides down the gangplank atop a fine horse. "I know I've had enough of sailors' rations! Let's ask around and find a good restaurant. I've enough gold left to 'splash out' on a good feed! Why do land-dwellers say that anyway? Weird.

Oh, and I hear you Tibitz. Believe me, the smell of fish under the water is even worse than it is up here in the surface world. Can you imagine living in a place where that's all there is to eat and there's no such thing as beef steak? Oh, sweet Divine Princess, I thank you every day for delivering me from that miserable fate!"

Aurora takes in the docks, and wonders if a reliable guide of some sort might be found.

"Anybody know anything about this place?"

Your conveyance docked at one of the eastern piers of Ilsurian, the air of which, while not salty, is laden heavy with fishiness. The city's position on the slopped bank allows for a magnificent view of the city. Main roads run the perimeter of three tiers of elevation. The cross streets all lead from the docks to the predominant landmark of the second tier: a granite statue of a warrior towering above the orderly, red brick buildings that comprise the fishing town. Two other stately landmarks stand out to you. There is a wide, single story building much larger than most on the next tier of the city. Occupying the top of the hill are several impressive manors where those with coin to spend must dwell.

"Bloody Braeton," one of the wagon crew complains to the barge crew. "I'm so tired of crossing the entire flipping town to pick up shipments because he owns the entire swath of docks that are right next to boss' warehouse."

"I know, right?" says one of the other wagoners.

If they heard Aurora's question, they are clearly not inclined to answer it. The city does have plenty of places to quench your thirst or other appetites within view of the dock. Your dock is near a cross street that leads straight to the park surrounding the large statue. However, surely the Master of Sword's faith in your ability to find an address on your own was not misplaced.

It is currently late afternoon, perfect for an early dinner if you were so inclined.

The following Knowledge checks represent a tiered success of a single Knowledge roll (i.e. you can open all spoilers of your result or lower. The information in the DC 20 and DC 25 spoilers may also be learned if you spend the time to gather information via Diplomacy at DC minus 8 (plus what you will learn on other matters).

Knowledge spoilers courtesy of Doug Miles.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Dis place at mouth of big river of Skull's River. Be careful... this place has Chil...Kill...Phila...C-h-e-l-a-x-i-a-n-s in it! They is worship demons and devils and bad-gods. Remember the devil-priest-man that you meets in the tomb-place while I was super-hidey Aurora? That was fun, yes, yes! Most of the C-h-e-l-a-x-i-a-n-s don't like the V-a-r-i-s-i-a-n-s, who are really nice and do findy-stealthy stuff really good like Graymanes! We should have fun here."

Earlier, During the Trip...

"Miss Zarta recruited me to hunt for artifacts for the Dark Archive. She said that Fuzzy and I showed lots of promise," Zu answers, puffing out his little chest proudly. "I'm a good shot with a bow and I can see in the dark. But after I joined the Society Miss Zarta made sure I got me some book learning, too! So I know some things about some things."

"This is our, uh...third Path-Venture, me and Fuzzy," the leshy adds, counting on his fingers. "First one, me and some folks did an errand for that Dreidel Dang or however you say it. That one got kinda weird, we ended up traipsing all over Absalom talking to people and breaking into houses and such. Oh don't worry, empty houses, so it was okay. And then the second one, we went out into the woods with Miss Janira and roasted marshmallows and went spelunking and even tangled with a big old minotaur!"

Present

"Not a thing," comes Zu's cheery response to Aurora's question. "But that's why we got mouths, right? We can just go ask someone."

It's true but also a bit of a disturbing statement coming from a creature whose mouth doesn't actually move.

That said, Zu does listen carefully as Tibitz shares what he knows about the town. "Chilis? Oh no, you mean Cheliaxians! Huh, that's good stuff to know. Too bad they don't like the other locals, though. Seems kinda silly to me; aren't they all human beans?"

The leshy shrugs. "Anyway, that's all well and good but it still doesn't help us find a good place to hang our hats. Good thing there's plenty of people around here to ask..."

Diplomacy (Gather Information): 1d20 ⇒ 19

If I'm understanding the GM correctly, it'd be DC 25 if using Kn. Local or DC 17 if using Diplomacy to Gather Information?

"Your Divine Fishiness," Helvetica says, with faux formality and a small bow. "How many of us do you wager that horse can carry? I've never ridden one before!"

"Chili? Let's find a place that serves a mean bowl of that!" she suggests. "Sounds like this Braeton is financial successful, but socially poor! Gonna stow that tidbit away for later..."

"Y'all are going to be fun! Breaking into houses? Varisians and Graymanes who like to findy-stealthy around!? My people!"

"You'd be surprised where people draw the line on same or different then, Zu. It's disappointing, actually," she admits, her expression darkening ever so briefly. "But enough of that! Back to hunting down some chili with a place to hang hats!"
________
Diplomacy (Aid) vs Zu: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Zu is like a little Alphonse Elric from FMA!

The cartage crews certainly prove disinterested in speaking with you let alone giving you directions. The others near the docks--mostly fishermen--are mostly startled by your appearance and are split between stammering out apologies for their ignorance and cold, close-mouthed glares. Heading up the cross street, you pass a large shed without any doors or so much as oiled parchment to seal the gaping windows. You note that there are a dozen or more net hammocks strung up in the building. Most are occupied by sleeping men and women, shivering and twitching in their repose. One unkempt man, rail thin and only a heavily stained tunic wakes and looks towards you. His eyes go wide and he rudely shakes his neighbor to no effect. "Whoa! Never seen a walking weed and a mermaid in the dreams before," you hear him drawl as he watches you pass. "Gotta get me another fix tonight!"

Further up the road, you over head a local man say to younger man, "A traveling carnival? Beware my friend! These things are just a front for criminal activity. The games are rigged, the sideshows are farcical and the food is filthy. Sure the women are comely, but their welcome smiles and scant costumes--" he catches sight of your exotic quartet (and puffball), grabs the younger fellow by the arm and ushers him up the street, leaning in and likely whispering conspiratorially.

Yet closer to the gardens, you overhear a young man telling his friends, "Traveling carnivals are wicked fun! Even if you don’t have much coin, there’s always something to see. Harrowers, savage beasts, all manner of freaks and the dancing ladies—oh my! The smell of perfume, roasting meat and pipeweed makes me delightfully dizzy. There’s usually a good fight to watch, too. My uncle told me about this time he won 10 gold Sails wrestling Khoshut the Backbreaker, an exiled Shoanti warchief. I only wish they came more often."

One of his friends spies you and stares for a moment before blindly reaching forward to slap at his friend to get his attention, smacking him in the face twice. "What? What?" he says before turning. "Wow! Hey! Are you with the carnival?"

I'm only half-way through the results of your Gather Information results, but I thought I'd let you play around with the locals to set your tones.

"There are tribes on the surface world, just like under the sea, Zu. The Chelaxians and the Varisians are just different tribes.

Got room on my horse for two, Helvetica. But this saddle is made for a merfolk's tail, not a two-legs... what do you call it where your legs join your middle?"

Aurora sees what she can find out - especially if she can find a good restaurant recommendation.

gather info (diplo): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Tibitz appears cautious in the rather large crowd, "People don't always like Graymanes...and I learn all I can from knowledge-books and story-sayers. I can try and talk but people always want to be mean to Tibitz, yes, yes."

Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

"Normal!" Helvetica blurts out with a smirk. Mounting the horse she's momentarily content to ride bareback. "I'm so tall! No wonder people like this!

Fast forward to the GM's post...
"The carnival? There's a carnival here?!" she asks, turning to her allies. "We have to go! Our meeting can wait! He's waited this long, why not another day, right? Right?!" Likely irritating the horse with her bouncing, she slides off the side. Again, her legs absorb the shock of her landing with a ripple and she stumbles towards the young men.

"Where is this carnival?" After the excitement of riding a horse and hearing about a carnival, even more of her hair has managed to escape her braids, presenting the pair with what is likely a wild sight.

"No, should we be?" Zu asks quite genuinely. "It sure sounds like a good time...but I already gots a job, you see, hunting artifacts!"

He allows a moment of pause before adding, "But today we're just running errands. And what's a carnival, anyway?"

"Seriously? You're not?" the lad says incredulously.

"They've got to be pulling our leg," a dark-haired young woman says.

Once the group of youths ascertain that you are, in fact, not part of the carnival, they explain a little bit. "The Umbral Caravan arrived yesterday. They spent all night and today setting up. A parade of jugglers and clowns and freaks passed through this morning handing out fliers. It's cheap! Just about anyone can afford to go!"

"My dad says their are lots of carnivals that move from town to town in Varisia, but this is the first carnival to come to Ilsurian!" adds a second young man.

The dumb-struck youth who smacked his friend in the face to draw his attention to you fishes in his pockets. Finally, he drags out a folded piece of colored paper. He hastily unfolds it and thrusts it towards you. Inked on the paper is a sphinx both fierce and alluring in her depiction. The flier reads, "Come see Jherizhana the Thuvian Sphinx tamed by Amara Delisen herself! Center Stage. The Umbral Caravan."

The hour of dinner draws closer, and Tibitz can smell the myriad scents flowing on the gentle breeze from the garden circle where several restaurants and taverns are located.

"Oh, okay then! That sure sounds like something to see," Zu remarks, oblivious to the fact that he himself sure is something to see as well. "Maybe we *should* go...but, um, we probably oughta take care of our errand first, right? Or at least find somewhere to lay our heads for the night. Especially if you can win prizes and things at these carnivals, because it'd be mighty inconvenient walking around town with our gear plus all of our nifty prizes we'd probably win."

A black cat with yellow eyes wanders out of an alley--likely attracted to the smell of fish--and quickly assesses your group. It arches its back, fluffs its fur and then promptly darts back into the alley.

Tibitz eyes the cat and says, "I like cats. No like dogs. Small cats make good friends. Big cats...they all smashy, but Tibitz makes good Path-Venture with Cat-man and Cat-woman for Master Dreng."

Smelling the food, Tibitz smiles at Aurora, "Is it times to eats? That smells good! I want to try two foods tonight...no, no, maybe three, yes, yes, three!"

Showing everyone the piece of paper he was handed, "Why do Sphinx come here? I thunk sphinxiss were smart and strong. Do you think it is prisoner? Bad, bad. We should go see tomorrow, yes, yes."

Unless the group expresses a reason not to head to towards the Garden Circle.

What does Tibitz know about a Sphinx?
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"A Sphinx?! I don't think there is even a question anymore!" Helvetica proclaims, throwing her arms up to the sky. "Yes, a place to call home for like, what, a few days? You're smart Zu, it'd be too much to carry!" she continues, giving Zu a couple light knocks on his head.

"Oh, oh Tibitz is already off! Come on!"
________
Works for me, place to eat and sleep! Maybe ask around about this Rufus fellow while we are at dinner? Obviously in the morning we'll be shirking our duties for the day and heading to the carnival ;)

"Right!"

Zu hurries off after Tibitz and Helvetica, though he does pause and turn back to wave at the two youths. "Thank you for telling us what a carnival is! Maybe we'll see you there!"

"Cats aren't bad," the leshy huffs as he follows along, responding to Tibitz's earlier comment. "Lots of folks seemed to think I needed to get one of those black cats to pal around with but me and Fuzzy, we're a team! You can't break up a team on a whim, right?"

The youths stare after you as you go. They return Zu's wave with a bit of bewilderment. The encounter has clearly added some magic to their day.

The smell of food and drink rides on the air, tickling Tibitz' nose as you enter the garden around the towering statue. Taverns and restaurants of varied sorts ring the garden. The most welcoming of them is named the Two Waters. Inside you find a slightly more varied crowd than the town's dominant Chelish-descended residents. A human woman with dark hair touched with gray tends bar while younger women wait tables.

"Sit an-anywhere you like," a waitress calls over to you, stumbling over her words momentarily when she looks up but recovering fairly smoothly. The buzzing of the patrons fades rapidly as they begin to note your exotic appearances. Once everyone's eyes are on you and silent, it is easy to hear the rattle of something spinning on the second floor and what is likely dozens of feet stomping. However, before you can respond to the effect of your entrance, they turn back to what they were doing and the murmur quickly rises.

As you search for a table, you cannot help but notice the large sign over the bar, which reads, COMPLAINERS PAY EXTRA. Selecting your seats, a thunderous, "BLUE!" erupts on the second floor following by loud cheering. Shortly afterwards, a broad shouldered man wavers down the stairs and approaches the bar. The barmaid uncorks a bottle without a label, only a blue ribbon tied around its neck and serves him. He drinks it quick and wobbles back up the stairs.

Another waitress approaches your table and hands you two wooden menus branded with their contents. The first is a rather short list of common tavern food. The second is an exceptionally lengthy list of liquors from common to exotic. "I'm fairly certain that you've never been here before," she says with a wink. "I'll give you a minute to look over the menus."

While you look at the menu, there is another loud eruption from the second floor, although somewhat confused. "YEL... GREE... CHARTREUSE!"

Before too long, the waitress returns, "Well?"

Based on this tavern's description, I'm pretty sure you can order anything under 50 gp that doesn't poison you or give you a statistical bonus from this menu: Food & Drink. EDIT: Except the only "Meat" available is a large variety of freshwater fish, venison, and boar.

"Ah, excellent! Time for victuals!" Aurora ties off her horse outside the Two Waters and squirms inside.

Finding a place at a table not too far from the door, she peruses the menus.

Oh, splendid! Lots of new things to try.

"Waitress? I'll take a plate of the boar sausage, and the battered shrimp, and the venison in port sauce with roast vegetables, and the pickled trout, and the white crab, and the apple turnover, and the steamed plums, and the strawberry shortcake. What would you recommend to drink with those?

Oh, and is that some sort of game going on upstairs?"

Spending 6sp on food and drink ;)

"Alright! Oh? You'd best ask Noria about drink recommendations," she says, waving to get the older barmaid's attention. While the woman wipes her hands on a rag and makes her way over to you, the waitress answers the second question. "That's the shrine to Cayden upstairs. They're worshiping at the Wheel of Freedom. They spin the wheel, try to grab a spoke, and whatever color spoke is the kind of drink they have to buy and drink."

Noria arrives at your table and says, "Yeah?"

"The mermaid would like a drink recommendation for boar, cherabin, deer, trout, crab meat, roast vegetables, the pie, steamed plums, and shortcake. Do we have any shortcake left?" the younger woman informs the older.

"Hmm. We do have some Iron Trident arrived from Cheliax, that might do it, though I'm not sure about the shrimp and the crab. That makes it tough. Osirian Sangria, maybe, for the lake food. Top it off with a Fire-in-the-Hole and you won't care what came before," she adds the last with a chuckle.

Helvetica scowls at Aurora. "This table?" she asks, gesturing indignantly at the poor table. "There's a shrine to Cayden upstairs!"

Eventually, she grumbles to herself and takes a seat next to the Merfolk. "After dinner then..."

"Can I get like half of what she's getting? No, a quarter! Yeah, a quarter, that should be good. Unless one of y'all want to share a half order with me?" she asks, looking at the others. "Iron Trident please, they never have those in Absalom. Well, except at the Chelish Embassy, but I'm not allowed within 500ft of there. Not that I'd want to hang around a bunch of stuffy, uptight..."

"Oh wow Aurora, you must be starving," Zu gapes as Aurora puts in her own food order. "Don't they feed you enough back home?"

The leshy looks down at the menu, pondering his choices. "Hmmm...you know, I've never tasted venison before. I'll take some of that with roasted potatoes - I've seen folks put those together a lot - and maybe some fried pickles. Ooh, do you have kahve? A cuppa that and a cuppa water'd be great!"

He pauses and looks up at his companions. "Um...what sorta dessert should I get?"

"I need a bit more space than you do, Helvetica - my tail doesn't exactly fit under these little tables. Also I don't like being stuck way inside a room surrounded by strangers. It would take me too long to get out. So near the door is best."

Aurora crunches on breadsticks whilst waiting for her Sangria, and continues: "Home is the Lodge now, I suppose. I mean I could go back to Master's sanctum, but it feels empty without him.

Ah, looks like my sausage is here."

"Oh gosh, all of them? Then there'd be nothing to look forward to the next time! But maybe, uh...maybe two. Or three. Um..."

Zu peruses the menu a bit more and before finally settling on a couple of items that jump out at him. "Let's see...how about the turtle cheesecake and...ooh, flan? That sounds interesting - I'll take a flan too, please!"

Tibitz seems to be a creature of specific tastes, after sniffing the air he places his order, "I will have the meats and potatoes... much of them please, yes, yes."

It takes some time to prepare as much food as Aurora has ordered herself, let alone what she has convinced all of you to order. Some of the faster dishes are brought out and set on the table. Several rounds of colors being boisterously bellowed from above pass. One brown haired young gentleman makes it half way down the stairs and then falls and tumbles the rest of his way.

The downstairs crowd cheers and laughs, "He's paid Cayden his due!"

A burly man peels himself away from his position on the wall, one that upon reflection provided him a good view of the entire tavern, and marches over to the fallen youth. You may note that a lean, muscular woman in worn leathers takes the man's place against the wall while he deals with the young man. He hefts the lad over his shoulder and makes his way toward the door.

In the meantime, you are able to ask the rotating waitresses a few of your questions. Rufus Servinus lives on the north side of the upper tier, and you acquire solid directions to his manor. You also find that if you want something more exotic than spelunking equipment or weapons (like scrolls), then the place to go is Mistress Robella's Curiosity Shoppe, located on the southern end of town next to Ilsurian Storage & Hauling. Semere Arms, located a block north of the dock you landed on, is the place to find quality weapons.

An anonymous admirer purchased your table a round of Fire-in-the-Hole. The drinks arrive in shot glasses and on fire. There's black silt floating in the liquor, and every so often a speck floats close enough to the top to touch the fire and makes a tiny, sparking pop.

As the waitress returns to his table and his food is placed in front of him a curious look crosses Tibitz's face. "This meat and potatoes is cooked? You burnt it all up! Who does this?"

Tibitz wait a few seconds before revealing what he believes to be the punchline of a very funny joke, "Hahaha, no, I likes it this way. It is very good. Smells tasty-good, yes, yes. You are thanked."

"Ha ha, Tibitz that's very good!" Aurora laughs along.

"Let's say 'grace' now" she adds through a mouthful of sausage.

"Divine Princess, we thank You for Your bounty, and in Your honour we shall now devour all that is laid before us. Let us feed our pain."

Helvetica stares at Aurora in shock. "You don't just eat the food?" She looks at the others then back to Aurora. Standing up, she reaches over and presses the back of her hand against the Merfolk's forehead.

Fortunately, she gets distracted by the round of shots. "YES!" Snatching hers from the table, she raises it high. "To the start of the best night ever!"

After throwing the shot back, she digs into the food. While her appetite is nowhere near Aurora's, she does her best to at least give Tibitz a run for his money. Part way through, she stops and looks at Aurora again. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you in pain or something? Do you hurt? Should we find you a doctor?" Please say no, please say no, please say no...

Aurora laughs her musical laugh: "I'm not going to eat the table and cutlery, if that's what you mean! And I don't need a doctor. Just this good food. Don't you feel pain when you're belly is empty?"

Aurora saves the flaming cocktail till last, not wanting to spoil the flavours of the various dishes.

"Not really," Zu remarks as they all begin digging in to their various dishes. "I mean, we leshies still need nutrients but we're plants, you know? So a little sun and water does it for most of us - if we're hungry or thirsty we start looking kinda wilted. But you know, it's still fun to eat people food to see what it feels like and what it tastes like."

In fact, watching Zu eat is a rather unusual experience. Someone's obviously shown him how to use cutlery at some point but he's also not averse to simply picking up morsels with his viney fingers and tossing them into his open, smiling pumpkin mouth. What happens to the food after that is a mystery for aged sages.

"It also helps us blend in better if we eat when the people eat!"

The shot sparkles and pops as Helvetica pours it down. It tastes like a high proof whiskey with a metallic tinge.

The rest of the food is very well prepared. "We're out of shortcake. It goes fast in the morning," the waitress who brings the trout apologizes.

While you dine, several clowns and jugglers enter the tavern and begin handing out fliers. "Come see the Umbral Caravan tonight! Opening Night! Wonders and mysteries from far away lands! Magic! Music! Food! Games! Everyone is welcome in the Umbral Caravan!" the barker shouts. This garners slightly more attention than your exotic entrance an hour earlier.

The flier that you are handed bears the image of what appear to be a lovely set of triplet Varisian women and advertises, "Demonstrate your powers of perception at the lovely Madame Masque's tent! Compete against your fellows and win the pot!"

"Oooh, they have food! We should visit. Maybe they have shortcake?" says Aurora, smacking her lips.

"Powers of perception? Well dang, maybe I could do some good at that! If it's opening tonight then maybe we could even go take a peek after all, after dinner?"

"I'z very perception-seeing good. Maybe something sweet to eat too! I would like to see the night carnival. Do you all want to go?"

"That's even better than the Shrine!" Helvetica says, dropping her cutlery on the table and reaching out to take hold of Tibitz's face. "YES!" she shouts and lets him go. We could do both if we're quick enough!

Like a child promised ice cream for eating all their vegetables, she starts shoveling as much food as she can into each bite.

After consuming a truly prodigious amount of meat, potatoes, deserts, and alcohol and leaving the poor serving women dizzy and the cooks exhausted, you pay your bill and take your leave. Noria smiles, eyes twinkling, as she counts the silver coins over and over.

While you have the directions to Servius' manor, the hour is late, and there is no true rush, so you opt to visit the carnival outside of town. The Umbral Caravan is to the east of town, which allows Helvetica to make an easy stop at Mistress Robella's Curiosity Shoppe to purchase a few alchemical and arcane supplies.

When you enter the shop, which is lined floor to ceiling with curiosity laden shelves, you find a middle-aged woman with medium length dark hair making her way from the counter toward the door. "What?" she says, almost appearing to be irritated by your appearance. "You need something? Be quick. I'm just about to close up."

This is where you would purchase your alchemist's fire and scrolls. And for simplicity's sake, whatever else you wanted to buy that aren't weapons or armor.

"Yeah sure, whatever," Helvetica says absentmindedly as she moves past the woman. "Look at all this stuff!" Looking about with wonder, a severe look from the clerk sets her back on track.

"Right, right, you want to close..." she grumbles. With the help of labels, she quickly finds what she needs and pays for it. Had enough of those looks to know a wooden spoon is in my future if I don't pick it up.
________
Sorcerer's Kit, Alchemists' Fire (2), rope, grappling hook, Scroll of Mage Armor (4).

Aurora hefts her purse and considers following Helvetica into the shop. Hmm, looks like she wants to close up. By the time I dismount and get to her door she'll be done with Helvetica I'm sure. Ah, there's nothing I really need right now except shortcake anyway, and this clearly isn't a patisserie.

"You done in there? Some urchin just mentioned something called 'candy floss' and I want some! They have it at the carnival."

I think my friends across the water call it 'cotton candy'?

"Well hey, since we're stopping, guess I oughta pick up a few things too," Zu remarks as he bops along after Helvetica. "Ooh, lemme see...already got my alchemist's fires - never leave the Grand Lodge without 'em! But what else...?"

He gives it a bit of thought and then zips around, cheerfully grabbing up this and that into his arms before proceeding up to the counter and flopping it all down.

"This is all! Thank you!"
______________

Acid Flask x2, Tanglefoot Bag x1, Smokestick x1. And yep, we call it cotton candy!

Helvetica and Zu finish their commerce. The woman's brusqueness is only slightly mollified by the significant pile of gold she garners in the exchange. She follows you out of the shop almost hastily and locks the door behind her. Should you turn to look back at her as you head back to the main street, you would spy her making a sign to ward off evil.

As you make your way west through town, you join a slowly growing crowd of locals both well-to-do and impoverished. Each of them with eager and curious expressions. You can see the massive, colorful tents illuminated by lanterns and, likely, magical lights long before you arrive. There is a hum of anticipation growing in the crowd as dozens of people begin to express their excitement, plan their activity, or speculate on the contents of the carnival.

Upon reaching the entrance to the midway, you can hear the barker exclaiming, "Come one! Come all! Enter the Umbral Caravan and travel to a world unlike any that you have known! Explore the carnival and partake in its delights!"

A pair of clowns on stilts suddenly expel fire from their mouths in a wide arc over the entrance space. The crowd unleashes the obligatory gasp of surprise. One child screams and starts crying. The throng begins to move faster and join the many others already exploring the midway.

A path runs from the midway toward the traveling zoo. To one side are booths with colorful pavilion tent tops that provide shade for the games of skill and chance played beneath. Behind them are circus wagons, some clearly only for transportation and equipment, while others are attractions and portable shops for merchants. To the other side is a gigantic tent erected on tall poles with a stage curtain pulled shut across its front.

Perception (DC 20): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Despite having previously talked up his powers of observation Zu is oblivious to the antics and feelings of the shopkeeper as they hurry out and off towards the carnival.

As they approach and the colorful tents and lanterns come into view, Zu bounces excitedly on the balls of his feet. "Golly! It's like something out of the fey world, ain't it?"

"I'm not even sure where I'd wanna start first," he admits a bit later as the group wanders into the midway. "Those games look fun but they got a ZOO? Wonder if they got any jungle critters in it? And heck, they even got their own shops here!"

The leshy can't help but spin around and around as he tries to take it all in.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"We are nots from the Circus. Why do you call us freaky-circus people? Is our golds not goldy enough for you? We are big-time adventurers! Be nice or I will tell everyone you (whatever) not magic-mixed right!"

Alchemy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Helvetica, awestruck, takes it all in. "Zu goes to the Zoo! It is perfect, we have to go there first!" She looks back at the flier she picked up at the tavern.

"Then to Madame Masque's tent! If it is advertised, it must be the best part of the show!" Whichever way they proceed, she literally runs circles around Aurora in excitement. "Are all Pathfinder missions so conveniently scheduled? They should be!"